Variation in the Coat-Color Pattern of Hereford Cattle

Cytogenetic analysis is an important step in the diagnosis of animals with a history of infertility or sterility. While chromosomal studies have been indicated for livestock species for years, the demand for such analyzes in companion animals has recently increased. The coat color in cats known as tortoiseshell presents predominance of black hair mixed with white and orange hair all over the body and, in the color pattern known as calico, these three colors are presented as independent spots with predominance of white hair. However, all of these patterns are limited to females due to sex-linked inheritance. Male tortoiseshell or calico cats occur rarely, due to the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations. This article reports the chromosomal analysis of a male cat with tortoiseshell pelage that presented an extra X chromosome (diploid chromosome set of 2n = 39,XXY), a condition which is similar to Klinefelter syndrome in humans.

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Mosaic expression of a tyrosinase fusion gene in albino mice yields a heritable striped coat color pattern in transgenic homozygotes.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.88.21.9643 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 88 (21) ◽

pp. 9643-9647 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

B. Mintz ◽

M. Bradl

Keyword(s):

Coat Color ◽

Fusion Gene ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Mosaic Expression ◽

Albino Mice

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ASIP promoter variants predict sesame coat color in Shiba Inu dogs

10.1101/2021.10.01.462523 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Stepan N. Belyakin ◽

Daniil A Maksimov ◽

Maria A Pobedintseva ◽

Petr P Laktionov ◽

Dinara R Voronova

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Coat Color ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Gene Promoters ◽

Incomplete Dominance ◽

Pigment Synthesis ◽

New Model ◽

Different Levels ◽

Good Agreement

Different patterns of coat color pigmentation in dogs are produced by a sophisticated interaction of several genes. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the diversity of coat colors and their inheritance is important for professional breeders because it helps to predict the phenotypes of the progeny. Although genetics of the main coat colors in dogs is extensively studied, there are types of coat pigmentation that are not explained yet. Recently a new model connected the variants in ASIP gene promoters with different coat colors in dogs. Here we used this model as a framework to investigate the genetics of the rare sesame coat color in Shiba Inu dogs. We determined the combination of two alleles of ASIP gene that determine sesame coat color. This finding can be used by the breeders to produce the dogs with this rare coat color pattern. We also demonstrate the incomplete dominance between the ASIP alleles involved in sesame coat formation. These results are in good agreement with the new model explaining how different levels of ASIP gene expression affect the regulation of pigment synthesis in melanocytes.

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Complete albinism in Oxymycterus dasytrichus (Schinz 1821) (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2018-0005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 281-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rodolfo Stumpp ◽

Daniel Casali ◽

Heitor Cunha ◽

Adriano Paglia

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Coat Color ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Skull Morphology ◽

Multivariate Statistical ◽

First Case ◽

Cranial Measurements ◽

Relative Rarity ◽

Morphological Differences ◽

Neotropical Rodents

Abstract Reports of albinism are available for several groups of mammals, including the secondmost diverse family of Rodentia, Cricetidae. Nonetheless, in South America, where cricetid rodents are the most representative of the small mammals, both in richness and abundance, few records of albinism exist. Here, we document the first case of albinism for the cricetid Oxymicterus dasytrichus, and compare the skin, hair and skull morphology of the albino with specimens of the regular coat color pattern of O. dasytrichus collected in the state of Minas Gerais, where the albino specimen was collected. Despite the marked external morphological differences observed in the hair and skin colors, cranial measurements indicate that no salient differences can be observed when comparing particular measures for the skulls of albino and non-albino specimens, neither through a multivariate statistical analysis. We also briefly discuss the relative rarity of complete albinism in Neotropical rodents.

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A De Novo MITF Deletion Explains a Novel Splashed White Phenotype in an American Paint Horse

Journal of Heredity ◽

10.1093/jhered/esaa009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 111 (3) ◽

pp. 287-293

Author(s):

K Gary Magdesian ◽

Jocelyn Tanaka ◽

Rebecca R Bellone

Keyword(s):

Protein Function ◽

De Novo ◽

Coat Color ◽

Causal Variant ◽

Color Pattern ◽

De Novo Mutation ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Helix Loop Helix ◽

Blue Eyes

Abstract Splashed white is a coat color pattern in horses characterized by extensive white patterning on the legs, belly, and face often accompanied by blue eyes and deafness. Three mutations in microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and two mutations in Paired Box 3 (PAX3) have been identified that explain splashed white patterns (SW1–SW5). An American Paint Horse stallion with a splashed white phenotype and blue eyes, whose parents were not white patterned, was negative for the 5 known splashed white variants and other known white spotting alleles. This novel splashed white phenotype (SW6) was hypothesized to be caused by a de novo mutation in MITF or PAX3. Analysis of whole-genome sequencing using the EquCab3.0 reference genome for comparison identified an 8.7 kb deletion in MITF on ECA16 (NC_009159.3:g.21551060-21559770del). The deletion encompassed part of intron 7 through the 3′ UTR of exon 9 of MITF, including the helix-loop-helix DNA-binding domain (ENSECAT00000006375.3). This variant is predicted to truncate protein and impair binding to DNA. Sanger sequencing confirmed the stallion was heterozygous for the MITF deletion. No single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or structural variants were identified in PAX3 or any of the other candidate genes that were unique to the stallion or predicted to affect protein function. Genotyping five of the stallion’s splashed white offspring, including one all white foal, found that they were also heterozygous for the deletion. Given the role of MITF in producing white pattern phenotypes, and the predicted deleterious effect of this mutation, this 8.7 kb deletion is the likely causal variant for SW6.

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Phenotypic characterization of sheep populations in Tahtay Maichew district, Northern Ethiopia

Genetic Resources ◽

10.46265/genresj.shbd3744 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 12-22

Author(s):

Abebe Hailu ◽

Amine Mustefa ◽

Tesfalem Asegede ◽

Abraham Assefa ◽

Seble Sinkie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coat Color ◽

Age Groups ◽

Tail Length ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Quantitative Measurements ◽

Qualitative Characteristics

Eighteen quantitative measurements and fourteen qualitative characteristics taken from 306 adult sheep (57 rams and 249 ewes) were used to characterize sheep populations of district, Ethiopia. Most traits showed significant variation by zone, sex and age groups with higher values generally recorded for rams as compared to ewes. Middle age group animals displayed highest values for several traits, reflecting the optimal production age. zone affected ewes more than rams. The highland sheep height at withers, widest shoulder points and longest hair, indicative of adaptation to their environment. Qualitative characteristics of the studied sheep populations such as tail shape, plain coat color pattern, skin, hairy fiber and the absence of horn, toggle, ruff and beard suggest that they constitute a previously sheep breed. Tan coat color differentiated high and midland sheep from lowland sheep where white and brown colors were dominant. Canon bone length, height at withers and tail length were the three most important variables used in discriminating the sheep populations. On average 66% of the animals could be classified into their respective zone. Our data suggest that highland sheep populations are distantly related to lowland sheep, while midland sheep are more closely related to lowland sheep. It can be concluded that breeding programs specific to each zone need to be designed for sustainable utilization and conservation of the studied sheep populations. Furthermore, molecular based studies might allow further characterization of Ethiopian sheep breeds.

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